Refrigerating mechanism



0. HORNER.

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13, \922.

1,436,445. t d Nov. 21, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

MW GHQ: ucq

0. HORNER.

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1922.'

1,436,445.- I Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m A 2 2 @wmflfiz l 1 1 HI| j 0. HORNER.

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1922.

1,436,445. 4 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WIT/VL-SSES Patented Nov. 21, 192 2.

UNITED STATES onnrn Holman, or GREENVILLE, onto.

Rnrmonmirmo mno mmsm.

Application filed January 13, 1922. Serial No. 529,049.

Kn'other ob'ect is to provide novel means of freezing-ice with theapparatusincluding a combination expansion compartment.

Another object of'the invention is to combinle the expansion box with anexpansion CO1 ox and ice tray Another object is'to' provide means ofregulating the refrigerant from the'supply line to the combinationexpansion box and ice tracompartment by means of a vacuum contro ledvalve mounted on a base or platform entirely exposed to viewenabling'one to operate the valve completely, it being free from theusualvalve housing orboxes which usually make such valves inaccessiblefor either the regulation or attention they may require from time totime.

It is the intention of the invention to im prove generally, and toenhance the utility of devices of this type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and numerous other objects in view, which will appear asthe'de- .scription proceeds, the invention resides in the combinationand arrangement of parts,

and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed; itbeing understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed,can be made within the scope of what isclaimed without'departingfrom the spirit of the invention. In the drawing:- a Figure 1is a rear elevation of the device embodying my invention, 7 Figure 2 isa side elevation thereof, .Figure 3 is a fragmentarydetail view of themanifold used'in connection with the coil. v

Figure 4 is a lon itudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 5.is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of the bottom end ofthe thermostat coil.

Figure 6 through the vacuum controlled-valve.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 7.-7 of Figure 6 looking in thedirection of thearrow, and 1 a Figure 81s aside elevation of the com isa vertical section taken bined expansion and ice tray box, 'a portionthereof being shown: in I section.

: Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that assenbledviews have been shownin Figures 1 and 2 wherein thecombinedexpansion box and ice tray compartment is shown at the bottom ofthe" apparatus and. is fed with the refrigerant by the pipe 17leading'from the vacuum controlled valve6.- The refrigerant isintroduced into the coils through, the pressure or supply line 15 Avacuum being pumped intothe coil assembly produces a contraction on thediaphragm 5 and in this manner operates the vacuum controlled valve,opening the same by means of a lever 6 which is connected to the yoke 13mounted on the needle valve stem 10. This lever is pivoted on the rod8extending from the cap of the valve 6 producing a fulcrum therefor. Whenthis valve is opened by the vacuum, the refrigerant, which is in theform of liquid, passes through the small opening of the vacuumcontrolled valve into the expansion line 17 and thence into theexpansion box 2 and is here further expanded into gas. Theconstructionof the expansion box is shown to advantage in Figure 8 andis provided with an ice tra-y compartment 2* carried interiorly thereof.and spaced therefrom so that as the refrigerant expands it will absorbheat in I the compartment 2 and the ice. formed therein will be very drysince the temperature therein would probably be approximately ten totwelve degrees above zero (Fahrenheit). The expansion coil system 1 isincommunication with theexpansion box 2 as is shown also in Figure 8 sothat the refrigerant may continue its expansion therein and fromexperience I have found that the temperature of a compartment containingthe coils would be a proximately forty degrees above zero Fahrenheit).

When the machine, that is the compressor,

(not shown) stops operating, the weight 7 causes the lever 6' to closethe valve.

As the gas rises in the expansion coil sysheavy weight.

' tern its cold is diminished by the heat it has absorbed and it isreturned to the compressor and there recompressed and condensed intoliquid in a manner well understood in the art thereby completing onefullcycle. it being ready again to go through the processes follow plates12. The diaphragm 11 being held securedly between the valve body flanges9 and the valve cap 8 to prevent any.

leak of gas during periods of time when the machine is idle,' and toprovide easy and free movement of the needle point and also to omit-theuse of packing ofany kind around the needle point. p is not in operationthe liquid Which-has not been-fully expanded into gas continues toexpand, thereby producing-cold for-some time after the machine hasstopped, this also creating a pressure in the'expansion coil which inturn expands the sylphon or diaphragm 5 which is'in communicationtherewith through the pipe lGthereby raising lever 6 at the top of thediaphragm 5 thus closing down the needle valve seouredly. This methodenables the valve 'to function properly and does not require abundlesomeThe pipe 18 leads to a compression. i

p The thermostat coil 1 is embodied. in the expansion coil in such amanner as to make the Whole a compact assembly producing uniformity ofdesign which will be an advantage in the rapid and economical productionof these machines; also lessen the need of experienced men to installand charge the thermostat.

The purpose of the thermostat coil is clearlyunderstood by referring toFigures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The lower end of the thermostat coil is sealedor closed in any desired manner as at 22 and its upper end is connectedto the manifold 3 in a blind hole 30 communicating with the indenture 31in.

which is situated the valve seat 32. The needle valve' l9 is threadedlymounted so as to engage and disengage with the valve seat 32 andsuitable packing 23 is provided therefor. The'head 23' of the needlevalve 19 is formed so as to befitted with a tool when it is desired tomanipulate the valve. A cap 20 protects the same from being tamperedwithaccidentally or by unauthorized persons. On the thermostat coil islocated a boss suitably secured to which is attached a tube 21 whichleads to an automatic diaphragm controlling device (not shown) such asare now commonly in use.

To charge .the thermostat coil 1 after the refrigerating coil has beencharged with the refrigerant and the machine allowed to re lvhentheimachine main idle for a period of time, the pressure in theexpansion coil equalizeswith that contained in the machine proper (notshown). Then by removing the "alve cap 20 by means of a socket wrench orany other suitable im plement the square end of the needle valve isengaged and actuated for opening the same .and allowing the refrigerantto flow from the expansioncoil 1 into the thermostat coil 1 situated atthe front of the expansion coil preferably and being the first coil inthe same. The needle valve 19 is-then closed and the valve cap 20replaced thereby sealing the thermostat coil and preventing accidentalor otherwise interference therewith. To set the thermostat the'machine.is startedallowing it to operate until the temperature in thecoilcompartment reaches thedesired temperature and then by adjusting theregulating spring on controls (not shown) until the'control switch cutsout. and an automaticthermostatic control is theresult. The pressurewithinthe thermostat coil 1" will always be approximatelythesameas thepressure withinthe expansion coil 1. The

pressure of this thermostat coil will there fore allow of expansion andcontraction of the sylphon or diaphragm of the automatic.

diaphragm inaccordaucewith the temperature in and about the expansioncoil so that the controlling device in turn will operate the switch inthe circuit of the electric motive power for operation of thecOmpressor.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is: 1

1.- In combinatioma coil including a plurality of sections, an expansionbox con'imunicating with some of said coil sections. a manifold incommunication with said sections. and a valve disposed between thesection which is not in communication with the expansion box and themanifold in the manner and for the purpose specified.

- 2. In combination. a coil including a plurality otsections. anexpansion box communicating with thesections ot' said coil. a manifoldin communication with said sections. a thermostatic pipe having one. endclosed and its bther end conununicating with said manifolch'and a valvedisposed between the thermostatic pipe and the manifold.

3. In combination. a coil including a pluralityof sections. an expansionbox communicating with 'the sections of said "coil; a manifoldv incommunication withsaid'seetions, a thermostatic pipe similar inappearance' to the sections ofsaid .coil having its lower end mounted onsaid expansion box but not in communication therewith and its upper endcommunicating with said lnani fold. and a valve disposed between thethermostatic pipe and the manifold.

In testimony whereof I atiix mv signature.

()DDIE Houses.

